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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released 2022 A-F accountability ratings for districts and campuses, the first to be issued since 2019 due to two years of COVID-related pauses. The TEA noted that 1,195 districts and 8,451 campuses were rated this year, with returns showing promising signs of progress in Texas’s efforts to catch students up academically.

STAFF REPORTS Alfonso Medina appeared in a Van Zandt County courtroom Aug. 11, pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter stemming from a two-vehicle accident that took place Dec.

The first day of the 2022-’23 school year for Canton, Edgewood and Martins Mill brought with it the usual smiles, nerves and occasional tears for students and parents alike Aug. 15. Two other county districts, Grand Saline and Van, will start their respective school years during the upcoming week.

STAFF REPORTS Local law enforcement officials found themselves in a dangerous situation last week, engaging in a high-speed chase to detain a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of a woman in Edgewood that also involved the kidnapping of a small child. According to reports of the incident, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Downs Street in Edgewood after receiving reports of shots being fired.

DAVID BARBER davidb@vanzandtnews.com Concerns over a lack of communication between the city council and residents regarding a recent decision to raise water rates in the City of Van were addressed by two citizens in front of a large crowd Aug. 11 at the regular monthly meeting of the Van City Council.

DAVID BARBER davidb@vanzandtnews.com Following a public hearing in which no one chose to speak, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court unanimously approved their fiscal year 2022 budget during its regular meeting Aug. 17.

Students across the county returned to campus this week, as Canton, Edgewood, and Martins Mill ISD’s hosted their first day on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The number of newly confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported in Van Zandt County increased by 271 over the last two weeks, climbing from 11,877 since the pandemic was first tracked at the end of the July 21 reporting period up to 12,148 at the end of the Aug. 4 reporting period.

The Downtown Canton Farmer’s Market, which operates each Saturday from 8 a.m. - noon across the street from City Hall in Canton, served as a drop-off location for water, snacks and other donated goods that were subsequently distributed to area fire departments Aug. 6. Joe Elerson of the Midway Fire Department summed up the feelings of many stating, “Thank you to all the people that donated to help our volunteer fire departments with water, power bars, power drinks and money, and those that bought raffle tickets to help Ben Wheeler Fire and Rescue Truck 1 get a new set of tires.” Elerson, at right, is pictured alongside Captain Bobby Harvey with just some of the items that were received as part of the donation drive.

Strategies on dealing with drought for livestock producers will be discussed at a program scheduled for August 18 at the Van Zandt Farm Bureau Event Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event center is located at 220 Burnett Trail in Canton. There is no cost to attend.